Dress for Success of SW Florida is pleased to announce the appointment of Caryn Smith to their Advisory Board, which offers support to the governing board on marketing, programs, and fundraising efforts. Smith will serve as co-chair of the newly launched Entrepreneurial Spirit Program (E$P). The mission of E$P is to provide women with information, resources, and the tools needed to start a one-person business. E$P aims to help put women on the road to success by teaching basic business skills, reviewing different business opportunities, developing a marketing plan, and sharing sources of information.
“What attracted me to Dress for Success as a place of service is what is at the heart of it – The goal to empower women to achieve economic independence and get to the next level of life, as they want to achieve it,” says Smith. “In my work, and all I do, empowerment is usually the driving force, so this is a natural fit for my service to the community. Being a shaping influence of E$P is an honor. I love helping people, particularly women, get a smart start in business,” Smith adds.
Caryn Smith is a seasoned business professional with years of experience in creating successful start-ups. Smith began her career in Art Direction and Publishing in Washington, D.C. in 1985. After quickly rising through the ranks and establishing herself as an award winning creative director, she launched her own company, Suko Creative Communications, in 1997, which continues to be a successful business in the D.C. market, specializing in national association publications and marketing.
Since 1997, Smith has also served as Owner/CEO of Foster’s Grille, a franchise concept, with her husband Jeff Smith, President. The couple brought Foster’s Grille, headquartered in Northern Virginia, to Florida and quickly became the favorite burger and family-friendly restaurant in the area, as voted year after year by local residents. They developed the Cape Coral location into the top producing franchise in the chain before selling in 2012. They continue to successfully own/operate the Foster’s Grille in Gulf Coast Town Center since 2010.
In addition, Smith is a Skin Care Coach and Independent Consultant with Rodan + Field Dermatologists, where she partners with the Doctors who created Proactiv® to build the national brand in Southwest Florida by helping others feel confident about themselves through improving the condition of their skin. Smith lives in Fort Myers with her husband and their four children.
About Dress for Success
The mission of Dress For Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. There are 125 Dress For Success locations in seven countries focused on providing career wardrobes and employment counseling to disadvantaged women. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success Worldwide has helped more than 600,000 women work toward self-sufficiency. For information on Dress for Success SW Florida located at 12995 S. Cleveland Ave. Suite 153, Fort Myers, FL in the Pinebrook Plaza, email swflorida@dressforsuccess.org, call 239-689-4992 or visit www.DressForSuccess.org/swflorida.
